Reference stand



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REFERENCE STAND Filed April 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. O. UNGER REFERENCE STAND Dec. 13, 1938.

Filed April 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet P. O. UNGER REFERENCE STAND Dec. 13, 1938.

Filed April 24, 1936 '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 13, 1938. P50. UNGER 7 REFERENCE STAND Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES REFERENCE STAND Paul 0. Unger, Glen Ellyn, Ill., assignor to Wilson-Jones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 24, 1936, Serial No. 76,094

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a reference stand particularly adapted to support a loose leaf binder of the shift type in position to facilitate reference to the sheets contents of the binder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a reference stand with means for facilitating opening and closing of a hinged back binder supported thereon. It is a further object of this invention to provide a reference stand with means for preventing accidental shifting of the binder. It is a further object of this invention to provide a reference stand with means to cause a shiftable cover of a loose leaf binder to shift automatically. Other objects of tlL's invention ill become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a perspective view of a reference stand with a loose leaf binder supported thereon;

Figure 2 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the reference stand and binder supported thereon;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showing the reference stand in collapsed position;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the reference stand with a binder supported thereon;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VV of Figure 2 with the binder removed;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VIVI of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a perspective View of the stand with a part broken away to show the supporting structure.

In the drawings the reference numeral 2 indicates a base member which includes two channel shaped members 3 and an angular cross member 4. The base member is preferably provided with a plurality of supporting bumpers 5 which may be formed of rubber, felt, metal or any suitable material. Each channel shaped member 3 is provided with an upstanding flange 6 which is serrated on its top edge, as indicated at l. A member 8 is secured to each channel member 3 and extends the same distance as the serrations on the flange 6. The member 8 includes an end plate 9, an upright wall If], and a flange H projecting from the top of the upright wall i 8 towards the serrated flange 6. The flange i l is notched, as indicated at I 2, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A platform, indicated generally by the reference numeral I3, is hinged at its front edge to the front edge of the base member 2, as indicated at I 4. The platform I 3 includes four longitudinally extending channel shaped members l5, I6, I! and I8, and a pair of transversely extending channel shaped members l9 and 20.

A strut 2| is hinged to the underside of each of the channel shaped members l5 and I8, as indicated at 22. A cross member 23 is secured to the struts 2! to enable the struts to function as a unit. Each strut 2| is notched near its lower end, as indicated at 24, to provide a projection 25 which may be moved through the notch [2 to enable the bottom of each strut to engage the serrations l to hold the platform l3 at'any desired inclination. In this position the flange ll overhangs the projection 25 to prevent accidental displacement of the strut from engageable relation with the serrations. As shown in Figure 6, the space between the flange H and the upper edge of the projection 25 is sufiicient to allow the strut to be manipulated.

In order to move the platform l3 to a position parallel to the base member 2 the struts 2! are moved out of engagement with the serrations 1 through the notches l2 .and are then swung to the position indicated in Figure 3. The platform 13 may then be swung to the position indicated in Figure 3. A spring catch 26 secured to the cross member 4 is adapted to snap over the channel shaped member 20 when it is moved to the position indicated in Figure 3 to hold the platform l3 and base member 2 in compact re1ationship with the strut 2| between them. In this position the reference stand may be carried or handled without difficulty.

A plurality of rollers 27 are mounted on the longitudinally extending members l5 and I8 by means of brackets 28. The rollers are all mounted so as to roll in a transverse direction. The member IE is provided with a stop member 29 having one surface 30 adapted to engage the shiftable cover of a loose leaf binder supported on the platform to prevent accidental shifting of the cover.

A transverse bracket 3! is rigidly fixed to the front edge of the platform I3. The bracket is provided with a round aperture 32 and an elongated aperture 33. A transverse bracket 34 having a round aperture 35 and an elongated aperture 36 is pivoted to the rear edge of the platform l3, as indicated at 31. The bracket 34 has its free end 38 bent to facilitate manipulation of the bracket. The bracket 34 is also provided with an extension 39 apertured as indicated at 40. The member 29 is provided with an aperture 4| in registration with the aperture 40.

A spring latch 42 is secured at one end to the channel shaped member H, as indicated at 43. The end 44 of the latch 42 projects beyond the rear edge of the platform l3. The end 44 is provided with a projection 45 adapted to engage the apertures and 4| to prevent pivotal movement of the bracket 34. When a book is to be positioned on the platform the end 44 is depressed to disengage the projection from the apertures 40 and 4| and the bracket 34 is moved to the position indicated in Figure 7. The cross member 4 is provided with a recess 44' to allow room for the end 44 when the stand is collapsed. The arrangement of the transverse brackets with the fixed bracket at the front edge of the platform |3 and the pivoted bracket at the rear edge of the platform increases the facility with which a book may be secured to the platform when the platform is inclined, because the force of gravity will cause the book to move towards the fixed bracket.

The loose leaf binder with which the reference stand is particularly adapted to be used comprises a pair of hinged back sections 46 and 41 and a pair of covers 48 and 49. The cover 49 is adapted to be shifted longitudinally with respect to the back section 41. A plurality of sheet retaining prongs 50 is rigidly mounted on the back section 46. A plurality of sheet retaining prongs 5| is mounted on a plate 52 which is hingedly connected to the cover 49 in such a manner as to be movable therewith. When the binder is in 'in-, clined position the cover 49 has a tendency to shift downwardly. The stop member 29 is of sufficient height to prevent the cover 49 from shifting accidentally. If it is desired to shift the shiftable cover, it is necessary only to lift the cover 49 above the stop member 29, and the cover 49 will then shift automatically due to the force of gravity.

Each back section 46 and 41 is provided at each 7 end with a stud 5.3. The studs :53 are adapted to When the binder is filled with sheets .54 the Weight on each cover may make it difficult to open the back sections. The provision of the rollers 21 enables the .covers to move laterally with ease and minimizes the effort necessary to open the back sections.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a reference stand, an inclined platform, a fixed bracket disposed transversely of said platform adjacent its lower edge, said bracket having a pair of apertures adapted to cooperate with projections on one end of a binder to be supported on said platform, a second bracket pivoted adjacent the upper edge of said platform, said second bracket having a pair of apertures adapted to cooperate with projections on the opposite end of said binder, and latch means to retain said pivoted bracket in binder supporting position.

2. In a reference stand, a platform, a fixed bracket secured to one end of said platform, and a pivoted bracket secured to the opposite end of said platform, each of said brackets being apertured to receive projections extending from a binder, whereby said binder may be securely retained uponsaid platform.

3. In a reference stand, a base member, a platform hinged to one .end of said base member, a pair of brackets secured to opposite ends of said platform, each of said brackets being provided with a plurality ofv apertures for engaging projections extending from the ends of a loose leaf binder mounted on said platform, and a plurality of rollers on opposite sides of said platform for engaging the covers of said loose leaf binder to facilitate the movement of said covers incidental to opening and closing of said loose leaf binder.

4. In combination, a loose leaf binder having one cover shiftable with respect to the rest of the binder and a platform for supporting said binder, said platform being provided with a pair of brackets having apertures engaging projections extending from the ends of said binder to retain said binder .on said platform, said platform being supported at an angle suflicient for gravity to cause said shiftable cover to shift, and means on said platform engaging said cover to prevent accidental shifting thereof. 7

PAUL O. UNGER. 

